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South Florida Report - Flamingo, Biscayne Bay & Miami
Capt. Jim Hobales
April 8, 2007
Flamingo - Saltwater Fishing Report
040307-
I'm fishing with Alex and Max today, their flight left Boston a 5:30 a.m. and we were on the water at 1030 a.m..
This is becoming a yearly thing for Alex in his quest for Tarpon and this year is no different. Friday we fished around south Biscayne Bay, first thing we got into were some 25 lb Jacks destroying a mullet school, it was short but exciting as the school moved on. Once on top of the flats we saw a few Permit, Bonefish and Sharks but did not catch any. We move on! We did some trout fishing and then I ran back to Government Cut for the afternoon bite, this was a good choice. There was a lot traffic on the water because of spring break so it made drifting a little tough but the Tarpon were rolling everywhere, it didn't take long and Max was hooked up to a solid 60 lb Tarpon after 25 minutes the Tarpon made a run under the boat and broke off. It was not long after Max was at is again with almost the same results. We decided to call it a night so we could get to Flamingo early in the morning.
040407-
The temperature was a little cool this morning but a perfect, Max got us off to a great start with a 31 inch Snook, all the while we kept watch on a couple really big Tarpon roll off the edge of the flat. I position the boat in front and rigged a mullet and pitched it out, the mullet kept swimming back to the boat. I'll tell you why, Mr. Big Tarpon was sitting in it's way, but still no bite! I re-rigged the bait placing the hook in the tail which make them swim away he must off swam right in the Tarpon's mouth as he hit the water, we are hooked up. The Tarpon's first run was well over 100 yards, we had been watching him for a while and knew he was big! The Tarpon's first jump was spectacular as she got all of her 150 lbs. into the air, then she made a second jump which I am sure Alex and Max can still see in their minds. The Tarpon's body was easily 6 feet in the air and very unhappy with. This is where it ends she landed on the line, breaking it. It is about 10 am we decide to go look for some Cobia and Triple Tails and then try to finish off the day with some more Tarpon, they have been in the same area. It didn't take long we found the triple Tails but they were spooky today it could of been the "full moon". The Tarpon were teasing us while we tried for Triple tails so as usual I'm back on the Tarpon. I had netted about 25 mullet, I rigged 2 of them off the back of the boat while they cast a Gulp Shrimp 4 inch. We had a double header on, one ate a mullet and Alex had a big Tarpon on his Gulp Shrimp. The next hour and a half Alex fought this big Tarpon on 14 lb Fireline, I had my gloves on ready to land fish when he made one last surge popping his line. Alex is snake bit with Tarpon, he has spent more time hooked up on big Tarpon on my boat than any other customer. The problem is, he has not got his picture with one! This is what drives people crazy. There were plenty of Tarpon and a few more bites, but the Sharks were out of control today we probably landed 25 sharks from 5 lbs to 50 lbs. This was a great day and these guys were tired the way I like it!
040507- Today I am with Jose and wife Susanna and son Jose. We started out catching bait, then some Trout and Ladyfish. On Jose first cast he caught a Trout, while the Trout was shaking on the surface a 5 foot Spinner Shark came up and ate it, going straight up and spinning. When they do this they wrap the line and break it. Now that's the way to get some ones attention and adrenaline going. I decided time to go for Tarpon, As we arrived I could see them exploding on the surface, so I pointed them out. We set our first drift and caught several Sharks, then I noticed some big Jacks busting baits we got right in their path. It didn't take long and we had a triple header of 6 lb Jacks. The Jacks moved on and so did we. I noticed the Tarpon had moved further out so we made our way there. This is what all Tarpon anglers look for "Laid Up Tarpon". These are fish that are floating just below the surface and you can cast to them. Jose the Father cast and hooked up on a really big Tarpon got a few jumps and it was over. We repeated this several times, finally Jose hooked up and it didn't come off. This fish is making some long runs and Jose is having to work hard. Jose finally gets the fish to the surface after 30 minutes, it was a Hammerhead Shark! The Shark was 5 1/2 to 6 feet long, I feel anytime we catch something like this it is a bonus. We took some photos and let him go. The Triple Tails were every where today I spotted 2 and made a cast, Jose jr. caught a nice 18 inch Triple Tail. We ended the Day with Susanna catching a 30 1/2 in Snook on a DOA Terrorize. Jose jr. and his mom must of caught 20 small Black Tip and Spinner Sharks as well. This was a jam packed fishing a day.
040607
Today's trip is with Chuck, Holly and their kids Andrew and Eric. We have a cold front moving in and it right over us, so I stayed close for the first couple hours. On our first stop, I told chuck there were a couple big Snook on that spot yesterday. I power poled down and Chuck was hooked up to a nice Snook, some how the fish threw the Twitch and Rap. Holly was next with a big Jack and then the a couple Ladyfish, but it was time to go the rain was close. I ran to a flat that was protected and pitched out a Ladyfish chunk, it wasn't long and we were hooked up to a big Shark. The Shark broke us off and the skies are clearing, it was time to put the kids on some fish. They caught plenty of Trout, Ladyfish, Bluefish and Catfish, but it was time for Tarpon! I ran to the beach where I had been finding the Tarpon, they were active and busting up, free jumping and rolling this definitely got their blood pumping. The wind died while we were out there, we were drifting 2 Pinfish; all of a sudden the drags is screaming and we have a big Tarpon in the air! Chuck picked up the rod and went to work, the fish did the down and dirty to him but responded and after almost an hour he landed the Tarpon. We took some great photos and guessed the weight, I'll tell you something when I can't lift them into the boat they are "BIG". I guessed around 150 lbs.. They fought some sharks and we ended up the day with a "dream come true".We also got into some big Triple Tails floating through the area we her Tarpon fishing, check out all floating objects there's usually one on it if not 3 or 4. Chuck and Holly said enough and called it a day, Chuck was very happy with his giant Tarpon.
030707
I fished with some friends of my brother today, Chris, Tony Vinny and Eddy. this is not an episode of the Sopranos, just some guys from N. Y. I went out with Chris and Vinny for Tarpon in February but they did not cooperate. Today's weather is windy 15-20 mph out of the north, not optimal conditions for Tarpon, again. We started out catching bait and made our way to the Tarpon grounds it was bumpy but do-able in the 22 Pathfinder. We arrived and there were no Tarpon in site, but I reassured they were under the surface. I put 2 Pinfish out on circle hooks, it only took about 5 minutes and we were hooked up. One thing that you need to remember is "no slack" ever. A slack line equals a lost fish! That's what happened to that Tarpon. Eddy and Chris both released a Black Tip Shark. The day was tough, bluebird sky and a rising barometer. We ended up in East Cape Canal fishing for Snook we had 5 bites and 0 fish caught. "Slack line kill's any chance of catching fish, but the comedy that come of one guy missing a fish is invaluable. I ran to an area where I had seen Tarpon in the morning, it didn't take long and Eddy was hooked up with a really big Trout and then it was Tony's turn, all of a sudden we are catching fish on every cast. To top it off the Tarpon were all around us and no Eddy's hooked a big Shark on his Gulp Jerk bait. The fish was all over the place but finally threw the hook. Chris had the next opportunity at a Shark it pulled and fought only to spit the hook. At this point i was speechless, I had no answers for the guys. They were happy and were still catching Trout for dinner. I can honestly tell you the day was tough but we made it through because of the laughter, I enjoyed myself as well as they 'Sopranos".
The weather is starting to get more stable, that means the fish will be where they are suppose to be and hopefully that leads to better catching conditions.The Tarpon, Snook, Redfish,Trout and Sharks are here to waiting to be caught at Flamingo.
If you like more of a challenge then Bonefish and Permit could be your next target, this is also a great time of year for them.
The Tarpon fishing in Government Cut which is just off of South Beach is really starting to pick up, I guess better late than never is the case here. Give me a call if any of these fish make you crazy and you would like to catch one at 305 333 8149.
Let's go Catch'em
Capt. Jimbo
CaughtLookinCharters.com
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